the Fleet Prison, Thomas was summoned to England to answer charges of treason, specifically, of having garrisoned Kilkenny. However, on 15 December the ship conveying him was wrecked off the coast of the Skerries, Isle of Anglesey and he drowned. Like his father, Thurles was a prominent Catholic and it seems likely that his refusal to conform to the established Anglican religion had angered King James I, and may have been the true motive for his summons. He predeceased his father who would die in 1634. His eldest son James, the future 1st Duke of Ormond, succeeded him as heir apparent and bearer of the courtesy title Viscount Thurles until he succeeded his grandfather as the 12th Earl of Ormond. Notes and references Notes Citations Sources – (for Ormond) – 1613 to 1641 – N to R (for Ormond) – 1611 to 1625 – Canonteign to Cutts (for Clancarty) – Scotland and Ireland – Viscounts (for Butler, Viscount Mountgarrett) Thurles, Thomas Butler, 2nd Viscount of Thurles, Thomas Butler, 2nd Viscount of 17th-century Irish people British courtesy viscounts Butler dynasty Deaths due to shipwreck at sea Heirs apparent who never acceded Thurles, Thomas Butler, 2nd Viscount of